Flashlight an energizer and starter of the second day or inbetween

Always say ‘yes’ to the present moment… Surrender to what is. Say ‘yes’ to life – and see how life starts suddenly to start working for you rather than against you.
Eckhart Tolle (*1948)
German-Canadian spiritual teacher

Freeze! That’s what you do with a flashlight. You freeze a current moment of the workshop by doing a quick round of all the participants. In contrast to brainstorming, you don’t want to have new ideas but get an idea of the current emotion or opinion of the group on a certain topic. Everybody states, in just one or two sentences, what he thinks about the given question. Usually, the statements should start with ‘I’; e.g. ‘I think that’s a good idea. Let’s do it!’

Flashlight: getting an idea what the current emotional state of the group is.

In comparison to a simple yes/no voting, you can get a more nuanced picture. You can of course also use one of the feedback technique for getting response to the current situation and group process. However, for getting an idea of what the emotional state of the group is it’s better to let participants express it in their own words instead of sticking a dot.

Use the flashlight according to your judgement spontaneously: whenever you think it’s needed. Of course you should take the feedback seriously. If they are all tired, have a break. If everybody says that you advance too quickly go a step slower etc.

Newspaper Interview

Newspaper Interview is an ice-breaker activity to familiarize your participants with each other. Create teams of two participants who interview each other. It’s advisable to mix gender, organisation, and age groups.

Wanted Poster

This is an ice-breaker activity to familiarize participants with each other. The form of the wanted poster reduces information to the relevant and the time needed.Make teams of two who interview each other and draw a Wanted Poster. It’s recommended to mix gender, organisation, and age groups.

Facts of My Life

Often so-called facts are presented to us, which we accept without further questioning. This excellent game teaches people to question further.

Animal

Participants will learn and remember the other participants’ name. It’s also very energising and great fun.Present yourself with name plus animal name, e.g. I am Anita and I am a cat because I love the independence and self-reliance of cats.

Icon – I can

Icons are visual symbols, which are very important in our everyday lives. We are all familiar with symbols for toilets, exits, or restaurant logos etc. But have you ever thought of symbolising yourself in a single sign? Icon - I can!

Invisible Friend

Write the name of each participant on the back of the cards and let each participant pick one. Now, they have to find their ‘invisible friend’, i.e. ask around which person belongs to the name of the card.

Remember my name

There has never yet been a man in our history who led a life of ease whose name is worth...

Alliteration

Alliteration means using the same starting letter of words as a rhetorical tool. Here, we use alliterative epithets together with participants’ names, e.g. Ali the Attractive, Laila the Lunatic, or Jim the Jealous.

Treasure Hunt

There is a treasure in each workshop participant. Find it and let find the participants in each other. This game sets a positive atmosphere when everybody is new - and perhaps a little insecure - in the workshop. It builds confidence and relationships.